The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi said, "Tao Yu failed the exam, but you passed it the first time. How do you think he would feel when he saw you?"

Yun Ji glanced at him: "What's your mood?"

Min Xi chuckled: "I'm so envious and jealous!"

"Not really. The imperial examination is not run by our family. We can't expect everyone in our family to pass it." Yun Ji said using Min Xi's original words.

"That's right! But he is still young, so it doesn't matter if he takes the exam for a few more years. After the messenger comes to announce the good news, we will go to the Tao Mansion and announce the good news to grandpa and grandmother." Min Xi was in a very good mood. He took a step back and looked Yun Ji up and down. "I didn't expect that my seventh brother is really good at both literature and martial arts. He is really good at both literature and martial arts, and has both talent and appearance!"

Yun Ji could no longer control the smile on his face: "Are you satisfied?"

Min Xi leaned over and whispered in his ear: "Very satisfied! What's most satisfying is my perspective on people!"

Yun Ji's mouth was now grinning from ear to ear.

After the messenger came with the good news and gave him a reward, Min Xi and Yun Ji got on the carriage and rushed to Tao's house to report the good news.

The streets were filled with the sounds of gongs, drums and firecrackers, all celebrating the success of the imperial examinations. The whole city was in jubilation today. Of course, some were happy while others were sad, after all, the success of the imperial examinations was only a fraction of the candidates who could pass the imperial examinations, and the vast majority of people were just runners-up.

The Tao family was also filled with joy at this moment. Seeing them coming, they all came over to congratulate them. Obviously, the people in the Tao family also noticed their results and knew that Yun Ji had passed: "Master, congratulations on passing the exam!"

This time when Min Xi went out, he brought a purse full of silver beans. He gave out silver beans to everyone he saw. Everyone in the Tao family was very happy. Since their master was having a happy event, they also got to benefit from it.

Grandpa and grandmother were the happiest. Both old people cried with joy and said how great it would be if Yunji's mother were still alive!

Tao Lizhi suddenly sighed: "Every exam was passed in one try. Ji'er was born to be a good student. If he had not gone to sea, it would have been great if he had taken the imperial examination directly!"

Yun Ji knew what his uncle meant, and he said, "That's not necessarily true. If I hadn't gone to sea, I wouldn't be in the current situation. My understanding of current affairs would be completely different, and I might not have passed the exam."

Tao Hong said, "It's all in the past, so let's not talk about it. The most important thing is that you passed now, which is a great joy. Yun Ji and Tao Shu need to prepare for the palace examination. I'll tell you about the precautions for the palace examination later. Although Min Xi, Tao Yu and Tao Yuan did not pass this time, they don't have to be discouraged. Keep working hard next time. Although you didn't pass, we got two of them, which is a great blessing. It's impossible for all of you to pass, otherwise everyone will think that we cheated."

"Grandfather, I'm not discouraged. I also know that I will definitely not pass the exam this time. It is already a great luck for my seventh brother to pass." Min Xi said.

Tao Hong said: "Min Xi, you are smart and studious, and you have outstanding talent. You have passed the imperial examination in just a few years. Studying for a few more years before taking the exam will do you more good than harm."

"Disciple will keep in mind the Master's teachings!" Min Xi thanked him sincerely, but he also knew that it was just perfunctory. After all, he would not take the imperial examination again.

When Yun Ji and Tao Shu were called to share their experience in the palace examination, Tao Yu and Tao Yuan were drinking tea and chatting with Min Xi.

Tao Yuan saw Min Xi eating peanuts with great relish, his mood was not affected at all, and couldn't help asking: "Nine Brother, don't you feel disappointed at all?"

Min Xi shook his head: "No, it's reasonable. If I could pass the exam, I would think someone was giving me a break. It's normal that I failed."

"That's right. You've only taken the test once. Maybe you'll pass next time." Tao Yuan looked at his brother. He had been in a state of disarray since the results were announced. It's been half a day, and he still hasn't recovered. It shows how much of a blow he has suffered.

Min Xi had the words on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back. He couldn't let anyone know that he didn't plan to continue taking the exam, otherwise he would definitely be bombarded with persuasion.

Min Xi picked up the teapot and poured tea for Tao Yu: "Tao Yu, have some tea."

Tao Yu held his head in his hands: "I have no appetite! I really envy those of you who have only taken the exam once."

"You've only taken the exam twice. It doesn't matter if you take it a few more times. You're still young and you have plenty of opportunities." Min Xi patted his shoulder. Tao Yu is only 22 years old this year and he has plenty of opportunities.

Tao Yu's eyes widened: "But studying is hard, I want to get out of this sea of ​​suffering as soon as possible."

"Brother, don't let dad hear this. If he hears, he will probably beat you up," said Tao Yuan.

Now that Yunji has passed the examination for a tribute scholar, the next step is to prepare for the palace examination.

Yunji could not deliver his paintings and Zhao Shizhen's calligraphy. After all, the palace examination was nominally presided over by the emperor and the chief examiner was the emperor. Although the questions were set by the Hanlin scholars, they also needed to be reviewed by the emperor, so he also knew the questions.

If Yun Ji went to see the emperor at this time, it would be like meeting the chief examiner before the exam, which was actually not allowed.

In order to avoid suspicion, Min Xi went to the palace alone to deliver the paintings. Of course, he had to declare in advance before entering the palace. Otherwise, how could he, a scholar, be qualified to enter the palace to meet the emperor without declaring.

Min Xi entered the palace alone with his calligraphy and paintings. Wanli was very happy to see him: "Min Qing, you are here!"

"Student greets Your Majesty!" Min Xi saluted Wanli.

"No need to bow! Yunqing is not here. He passed the imperial examination, right?" Wanli obviously knew the reason why Yunji did not come. "Congratulations to him for me. It's a pity that you didn't pass. Keep working hard in the next exam and you will definitely pass."

Min Xi said respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I will pass it on to my seventh brother. Your Majesty, I am here to give you a painting today. It is a painting of Mount Song by my seventh brother."

"Show it here quickly, let me see how Yunqing's painting is." Wanli waved his hand and asked him to come forward.

Min Xi walked forward, placed several paintings and calligraphy on the table, and opened several paintings one by one to show Wanli.

Wanli's eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, yes! This is the Songshan Mountain we climbed. It's so lifelike! Yunji's painting skills are much better than mine. I like it very much!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise!" said Min Xi.

Wanli slowly appreciated the paintings one by one, and Min Xi accompanied him to unfold them one by one. At the end, he opened the painting with the words "bright wind and clear moon".

Wanli was very surprised when he saw those big characters: "Is this Yunqing's handwriting? It's really well written!"

Min Xi said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this is not the handwriting of the seventh brother. This is the handwriting of a student of the Imperial Academy."

Wanli looked at him in surprise: "The characters are written as 'bright wind and clear moon'. I thought it was written by Yunqing himself. This student's handwriting is really good, but how did it fall into your hands?"

Min Xi then recounted the story of how he met Zhao Shizhen: "My student and my seventh brother saw that he wrote well, so we asked him to write one more piece of calligraphy."

"Then why was it brought to the palace again? But was it the wrong one?" Wanli asked.